JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Testing is underway at City Hall for about 80 firefighters in Jacksonville -- a test that, in the past, has been the subject of numerous federal lawsuits concerning discrimination in the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
The Captain (Suppression) examination is a multiple choice test used to promote firefighters to certain positions.
In the past, black firefighters filed suit saying it discriminates and whites are usually the ones who end up being promoted as a result of the test.
DOCUMENT: Captain (Suppression) motion
Various groups, including the Department of Justice, tried to stop the testing Monday, but could not.
A court hearing has been set for Dec. 3, which would challenge the results.
"The good news about the system that we have now is it's a licensed, bonded testing company from out of state," Fire Chief Marty Senterfitt said. "They use all of the latest parameters for testing. The test is not created in Jacksonville. The questions are not written in Jacksonville. So it's as fair as fair can be. There are still some challengers out there, but so far this is the fairest we've found to be able to test."
Monday's test results won't be available for about six weeks. Senterfitt said the results could lead to promotions for about 20 firefighters in the next two years, promotions that could lead to 15 percent pay raises.
"The individuals who are taking this test have been studying for months," Senterfitt said. "They have been memorizing material. And with the Fire Department, we have a rule of one, which means adding a little seniority in that people who score highest on the test get promoted first automatically."
An attorney for the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters, which has been challenging promotions and hiring practices of the department, says the test is unfair. The group and its attorney cite studies that show this type of test favors whites over blacks and Hispanics.
"Knowing that the test is bad, It's not going to measure what you want it to measure," attorney Dennis Thompson said in a phone interview. "You can either stop the test, you can either stop the scoring, stop creating an eligibility list. There are different points you can stop it."
The group wants a more practical test that would involve simulations of fire events, not just a written exam.
Members of the Brotherhood of Firefighters said they could not comment. City attorneys have not responded to questions, and the lawyer from the Justice Department said he cannot comment.